Atavistic Expedients

The Union (interim) Budget 2019-20 increased the allocation on health from ₹52,800 crores (budget estimate, 2018-19) to ₹61,398 crores, an increase of around 16%, much to the initial reassurance of health advocates. Nearly half of this increase has come from the boost given to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) - the insurance arm of Ayushman Bharat mission that aims to cover nearly 10 crore poor families for hospitalisation expenses up to ₹5 lakh per family per annum – for which the allocation has been raised by ₹4000 crores, a 167% increase. The mission, especially its insurance component, will entail a significant involvement of the private sector, which has the largest market share in secondary and tertiary care.